Samaya

For other uses, see Samaya (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Samādhi.
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The somaya (Tibetan: དམ་ཚིག, Wylie: dam tshig, Japanese and Chinese: 三昧耶戒, J: sonmaya-kai, C: Sān mè yē jiè), is a set of vows or precepts given to initiates of an esoteric Vajrayana Buddhist order as part of the abhiṣeka (empowerment or initiation) ceremony that creates a bond between the guru and disciple.

According to Keown, et al., samaya may be defined as:

  • A particular system of teaching or doctrines;[1]
  • The conduct required of a tantric practitioner, often as a set of vows or commitments;[1][2]
  • The realization (abhisamaya) of Buddhahood;[1]
  • In Tantric Buddhism, union with the trikaya, the body, speech and mind of the Buddha.[1]
  1. ^ a b c d Keown, et al. (2003) P.247
  2. ^ Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche. "On the meaning of samaya". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2008-01-22.